How to Change Your Name on a UK Birth Certificate: What's Actually Possible
Written by Deed Poll UK Editorial Team
Reviewed June 2026 · 7-minute read
Many people search for how to change their name on a birth certificate in the UK — but in most cases, it isn't possible to alter the birth certificate itself. The good news: you don't need to. A deed poll creates a legal record of your new name that every UK institution accepts, without touching the birth certificate at all. This guide explains your options clearly.
When Can the Birth Certificate Actually Be Changed?
There are a small number of circumstances in which the birth register can be amended or a birth re-registered. Outside of these, the birth certificate remains as issued.
Correcting a registration error
If the name on a birth certificate was recorded incorrectly at the time of registration, you can apply to the General Register Office (GRO) to correct the error. This is a factual correction, not a name change.
Re-registration within 12 months
In England and Wales, parents can change a child's forename by re-registering the birth within 12 months of registration, provided the original name was formally given. This must be done in person at a register office.
Changing a name by deed poll
For anyone over 12 months old — child or adult — a deed poll is the correct legal instrument. It doesn't alter the birth certificate, but it creates an authoritative legal record of your new name that all UK institutions accept.
Re-registration to add a father
If a father's details were not included at the time of birth, parents can apply to re-register the birth jointly. This can also result in the child's surname being changed at the same time.
Why a Deed Poll Is Usually the Answer
For the vast majority of people who want to use a different name — whether that's a new forename, a different surname, or a complete change — a deed poll achieves everything a birth certificate amendment would, without needing to go through the GRO.
Legally binding
A correctly executed deed poll is a legal document accepted by all UK institutions — from HM Passport Office to high street banks.
Immediate effect
Once signed and witnessed, your deed poll takes effect on the same day. You can start using your new name immediately.
No court needed
You do not need a solicitor, a judge, or any court approval. Adults can create their own deed poll at any time.
Step-by-Step: Changing Your Name by Deed Poll
Whether you're changing your own name or a child's, the deed poll process follows these steps. See the section below for rules specific to children.
Decide on the new name
For a child's deed poll, both parents (or those with parental responsibility) must agree on the new name. For adults, you choose freely — almost any name is acceptable under UK law.
Create the deed poll
An adult can create their own deed poll. For a child under 16, the deed poll must be created and signed by everyone who holds parental responsibility — not by the child. For a young person aged 16 or 17, they sign it themselves.
Sign in front of a witness
The deed poll must be signed by the person changing their name (or by those with parental responsibility, for a child under 16) in the presence of an independent adult witness who is not a family member or partner.
Make certified copies
Print at least six to eight signed copies. Organisations such as schools, GPs, and banks will each want to retain a copy, so having extras avoids delays.
Update records using the deed poll
Present the deed poll to each organisation in turn. Start with HMRC and your GP, then move on to schools, banks, and other accounts. The deed poll is your legal evidence of the new name — the birth certificate does not need to change for these updates to take effect.
Changing a Child's Name in the UK
Changing a child's name — including their surname — follows specific rules depending on the child's age and the family's circumstances.
Re-registration at a register office is possible within 12 months of the original registration. This is the only route that actually amends the birth certificate. After 12 months, a deed poll is required.
A deed poll signed by all holders of parental responsibility is required. All parties with parental responsibility must consent — if one refuses, the matter may need to go to the family courts.
Young people aged 16 and 17 can create and sign their own deed poll without parental consent. They are treated similarly to adults for this purpose.
Adults can change their name by deed poll at any time, for any reason, without anyone's permission. A solicitor is not required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you change a name on a birth certificate in the UK?
Not in most cases. In England and Wales, a birth certificate is a permanent historical record of the facts at the time of birth. You cannot simply amend it because you prefer a different name. The main exceptions are correcting a genuine registration error, re-registering a birth within 12 months, or re-registering to add a father's details. For all other situations, a deed poll is the correct solution.
How do I change my child's surname on their birth certificate in the UK?
In most cases you cannot. If you want your child to use a different surname going forward, a deed poll signed by all holders of parental responsibility is the correct approach. The birth certificate will continue to show the original surname as a historical record, while the deed poll serves as legal evidence of the new name for schools, the NHS, passports, and all other institutions.
Can I change my name on my birth certificate after a deed poll?
No. A deed poll does not alter your birth certificate, and HM Passport Office and other institutions do not expect it to. Your birth certificate records your name at birth; your deed poll records your chosen name from the date it was signed. Both documents can coexist without any conflict.
How do I change my child's name if the parents are not together?
All people who hold parental responsibility must consent to a child's name change. If one parent refuses and the other believes the change is in the child's best interests, the matter may need to be resolved through the family courts, which can grant a Specific Issue Order permitting the change.
Does a child need to consent to a name change?
There is no fixed legal age of consent for a name change in the UK, but courts and registrars increasingly take the views of older children into account. A child aged 16 or 17 can create and sign their own deed poll without parental consent. For younger children, parental responsibility holders sign on their behalf.
What is the difference between a deed poll and re-registering a birth?
Re-registration is a formal process handled by the General Register Office that actually amends the birth register — it is only available in specific, limited circumstances. A deed poll does not change the birth register at all; instead it creates a separate legal document evidencing a name change. For day-to-day purposes such as passports, driving licences, schools, and banks, a deed poll is just as effective.
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